Norway RSS feedhttps://www.fourfourtwo.com/norway
enRanked! The 11 worst misses in footballMatt Ritchie dropped a clanger in Newcastles win over Burnley on Monday night, but can he compare to these all-time howlers? Greg Lea watches on aghastGreg Leahttps://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/11-worst-misses-football
11. Fernando Torres, Chelsea vs Man UnitedTorres has his fair share of happy memories from Old Trafford, not least a stonking performance in Liverpool’s 4-1 triumph in March 2009. Yet this agonising moment two-and-a-half years later epitomised his Chelsea struggles more than any other, as the forlorn Spaniard contrived to slice a shot into Row D with the goal gaping.Torres had done the hard part, rounding David de Gea with a neat stepover and shimmy, but his composure deserted him when he needed it most. At least the Stretford End were sympathetic.10. Diego Forlan, Man United vs JuventusPre-season friendlies may be primarily about building fitness and integrating new signings, but there’s still a certain level of expectation involved. You wouldn’t expect a professional footballer to miss an open goal from six yards just because there aren’t points on the line, for example. Yet that’s exactly what Forlan did in this non-competitive clash with Juventus in summer 2003, picking up from where he left off after a debut half-season at Manchester United which yielded a grand total of zero goals in 18 appearances for the Uruguayan.9. Peter van Vossen, Rangers vs CelticThe worst thing about this passage of play should be Celtic’s appalling attempt to play offside, but Van Vossen spared the Bhoys’ blushes by fluffing his own line(s) in extraordinary fashion.Jorg Albertz did brilliantly to draw out Celtic goalkeeper Stewart Kerr and square the ball for his Dutch team-mate, but Van Vossen never looked comfortable and proceeded to commit the cardinal sin of leaning back. We’re not buying that desperate search for a divot, either.8. Freddie Ljungberg, Arsenal vs BoltonWhat a goal this would have been. Ljungberg was involved right from the start, shifting the ball wide right to Jose Antonio Reyes, who was fortunate to ricochet it back to the Swede. Patrick Vieira eventually received possession in the centre and dug out a lovely pass to Dennis Bergkamp, who fed Robert Pires on the overlap.The Frenchman did everything right, beating his marker with ease and picking out the unmarked Ljungberg four yards out. All he had to do was roll it into the empty net, but the winger remarkably skied it over the bar instead.7. Jakub Blaszczykowski, Borussia Dortmund vs FreiburgCompared to many of the entries on this list, Blaszczykowski was a fair distance from goal when he pulled the trigger against Freiburg in 2010. In hindsight, his mistake was taking on the shot too early, but that still doesn’t explain how the Pole failed to find the net – or even hit the frame of the goal.At least Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp saw the funny side. “Instead of running with the ball into goal he sends it over,” the German chuckled afterwards. “This can happen, no problem. But I think we will see this [missed] chance a few more times.”6. Ronny Rosenthal, Liverpool vs Aston VillaRosenthal got his Liverpool career off to the perfect start with seven goals in his first eight games – including a debut hat-trick against Charlton – but he was never able to maintain such a scoring rate once his loan move was made permanent.This miss in 1992 is one of the most memorable in Premier League history. After racing on to a long kick from David James, Rosenthal rounded Aston Villa goalkeeper Nigel Spink, took a touch to steady himself and hit a left-footed shot… against the bar.5. Nwankwo Kanu, West Brom vs MiddlesbroughHad Kanu tried to put the ball where it ended up, he probably wouldn’t have been able to. This was a miss that defied the laws of physics as well as logic.The Nigeria international, formerly of Ajax, Inter and Arsenal, had the ball put on a plate for him by ex-bricklayer Geoff Horsfield. But all Kanu could do was scoop it onto the roof of the net from a yard out. Horsfield couldn’t believe his eyes.4. Fahad Khalfan, Qatar vs UzbekistanA well-executed dummy can be both artistic and effective, but attempting one when you’re the goalkeeper and there’s an opponent bearing down on you isn’t usually the wisest idea. Uzbekistan custodian Timur Juraev collapsed – presumably in embarrassment – after letting the ball through his legs in this Asian Games quarter-final in 2010, leaving Fahad Khalfan with a golden chance to break the deadlock after just 45 seconds of extra time.The Qatari took a touch to bring the ball into the centre of the goal, before somehow toe-poking it against the post. Although he should have gone with his right foot, it was still much harder to miss than score with his left.3. Chris Iwelumo, Scotland vs NorwayWhen Iwelumo was called up to the Scotland squad to face Norway in 2008, he probably dreamed of scoring the winner on his international debut. Instead, the striker was forced to live out his worst nightmare, inexplicably directing Gary Naysmith’s low cross wide of the post from three yards out."My missus made me delete it from the Sky Plus after four or five days so, yes, I watched it,” Iwelumo admitted afterwards. “It was hard to do but I had to do it." The World Cup qualifier finished 0-0.2. Arnaldo Vera, Libertad vs EmelecThe humble shin guard is a valuable piece of equipment in the often-violent surroundings of South American club football, but the protective pad did Vera no favours in this 2003 Copa Libertadores tie.This was by no means a disappointing evening for the centre-back’s Paraguayan employers Libertad, who ran out 5-1 winners against Ecuadorian outfit Emelec, but Vera was responsible for perhaps the worst miss in the history of the competition when he shinned a shot against the bar from a yard. The Emelec defenders were so stunned at Vera’s failure to convert that they took an age to eventually hook the loose ball clear.1. Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Nigeria vs South KoreaYakubu scored 21 goals for his country, a record that’s not to be sniffed at – least of all by the hitherto uncapped FFT. Yet it really should have been 22.When the ball landed at his feet in this group stage clash at the 2010 World Cup, the then-Portsmouth striker was in the centre of the six-yard box with just three yards between him and the goal-line.The South Korean defenders, meanwhile, were busy appealing for offside rather than attempting to apply pressure to their opponent. It didn’t matter, though, with Yakubu’s astonishing miscue ultimately proving costly as Nigeria finished bottom of Group B.New features you'd love on FourFourTwo.comfeatureTue, 27 Nov 2018 13:31:28 +0000Alex Reid100000304 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com10 players who switched international allegiance after being cappedDeclan Rice: will he or wont he snub the Republic of Ireland for England? While the West Ham midfielder makes his mind up, Sean Colerecalls a clutch of stars who did switchallegiances...Sean Colehttps://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/10-players-who-switched-international-allegiance-after-being-capped
Rice has three caps for the Republic of Ireland but may still end up committing his international future to England. As the versatile West Ham youngster has only played in friendlies for the country of his grandparents’ birth, he remains eligible to switch allegiances.Gareth Southgate is keen for Rice to represent England, and the player himself chose to withdraw from a recent Ireland squad to consider his situation. Should he change his mind, the 19-year-old wouldn’t be the first player under modern rules to turn out for two different international teams...Wilfried Zaha – England, Ivory CoastFrom an English perspective, Zaha is perhaps the most famous example of this phenomenon. He won two caps under Roy Hodgson, making brief cameos against Sweden and Scotland, but was never tied down by playing a competitive fixture.Having been born in Abidjan, before moving over to England at the age of four, Zaha subsequently alerted FIFA of his desire to play for the Ivory Coast. Despite attempts by Southgate to convince him otherwise, the tricky forward made his second international debut in January 2017, before going on to play in the Africa Cup of Nations later that month.Diego Costa – Brazil, SpainCosta’s path to superstardom was far from straightforward. His true breakthrough at elite level came in the 2013/14 season, when he scored 27 league goals for Atletico Madrid – more than double his previous best. It was midway through that campaign where the Brazil-born striker decided to play for his adopted home country.Costa had been granted Spanish nationality in July 2013 and declared his intention to represent Spain soon after, despite having turned out twice for Brazil just months before. “This is where I have done everything. All that I have in my life was given to me by this country,” sobbed the burly brute.It was a controversial move that led to Costa being booed by local supporters as he led the line for Vicente del Bosque’s side at a disastrous 2014 World Cup for la Roja.Mario Fernandes – Brazil and RussiaAll but two of Russia’s squad for their shock run to the World Cup quarter-finals were domestically-based. Denis Cheryshev and Vladimir Gabulov were the two exceptions, but CSKA Moscow defender Mario Fernandes was arguably the most unusual case to consider. The Brazilian had once played a single match for his home country but was later incorporated into the Russian set-up.Fernandes qualified by virtue of the five-year residency rule – but only granted citizenship via a presidential decree from Vladimir Putin – and made his debut in a friendly against South Korea late last year.He started every game at the World Cup and scored a memorable extra-time equaliser against Croatia that sent the game to penalties. Unfortunately for Fernandes, he was one of two players to miss their spot-kick as the hosts eventually bowed out.Alex Bruce – Republic of Ireland, Northern IrelandWhile his dad infamously failed to win a single international cap despite his wealth of club success with Manchester United, Alex Bruce went four better by splitting his appearances equally across two different countries – the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.The defender was eligible to play for either through his Bangor-born paternal grandmother, but initially opted for the Republic of Ireland, making his debut in 2007. Four years later he controversially switched to Northern Ireland, but was unable to establish himself in their side either. As he only played in friendlies, England could still swoop in to claim him.Nacer Chadli – Morocco, BelgiumChadli back row, second from rightLike so many members of Belgium’s multicultural squad, Chadli was also eligible to play for another country – in his case, Morocco. The Africans came calling first, and he made his international debut in a 1-1 draw away to Northern Ireland in November 2010.Less than three months later, Chadli won his first Belgium cap in a friendly against Finland. He’s been a regular for the Red Devils ever since and enjoyed his best moment for them at this summer’s World Cup, coming off the bench to score an injury-time winner in the second round against Japan.Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez – Belgium, MoroccoAnother Belgium-born midfielder of Moroccan heritage, Carcela-Gonzalez made the opposite journey to Chadli at almost exactly the same time. He won two caps for Belgium while playing for Standard Liege but changed his mind in February 2011, taking up Morocco’s offer instead.Carcela-Gonzalez won a penalty on his debut, a 3-0 defeat of Niger, and has picked up another 21 caps for the Atlas Lions. He was part of their 2018 World Cup squad, but limited to just 15 minutes of action in defeat to Portugal which knocked Morocco out of the competition.The well-travelled 29-year-old is currently back at Liege for a third spell, having previously played in Russia, Portugal, Spain and Greece.Jermaine Jones – Germany, USADuring his time in charge of the USA, Jurgen Klinsmann recruited several Germany-born players to his American cause, including John Brooks, Fabian Johnson and Timothy Chandler.Arguably the most famous of all, Jermaine Jones, wasn’t one of them – he’d made the switch before Klinsmann was appointed. The central midfielder was also the only one to have played for Germany at senior level.Those three appearances all came in 2008, after the commanding midfielder made an impressive start to life at Schalke. However, once it became clear that Joachim Löw didn’t see Jones as a viable long-term option, he was cleared to switched allegiances and went on to win 69 USA caps.He scored four goals too – including a fierce long-range strike against Portugal at the 2014 World Cup. That net still hasn't recovered.Saman Ghoddos – Sweden, IranBorn in Sweden to Iranian parents, Ghoddos was eligible to play for either country. Sweden were the first to express their interest in December 2016 after the attacker had made great strides with Ostersund in his first season at the top level, notching 12 goals in all competitions. He played in two friendlies and even scored in a 6-0 win over Slovakia.However, Carlos Queiroz got in touch last summer as Ghoddos wavered over whether or not to commit. He was called up by both countries but eventually chose Iran and helped his new side to the World Cup, where he featured as a substitute in all three group games.Thiago Motta – Brazil, ItalyThe decorated defensive midfielder, who picked up plenty of silverware during spells at Barcelona, Inter Milan and PSG, won two caps for his native Brazil back in 2003. After failing to build on that total, Motta was later approached by Cesare Prandelli about transferring his allegiance to Italy.The request came during his renaissance in Serie A, the season after Motta had won the Treble with Inter under Jose Mourinho. He went on to become a key component of Prandelli’s side over a number of years, helping them to reach the final of Euro 2012.Motta retired from international football in 2016 with 30 Italian caps to his name– and the allure of wearing No.10 at a major tournament.Valon Berisha – Norway, KosovoAfter a long struggle to be recognised by FIFA, Kosovo finally got its wish in 2016. The ruling which allowed them to play competitive matches created a panic among several other countries, who feared that some of their players could choose to defect. In particular, rumours swirled around the futures of prominent Kosovar-Albanians like Xherdan Shaqiri, Valon Behrami and Adnan Januzaj.While they stayed with Switzerland and Belgium respectively, several others elected to represent Kosovo instead. Valon Berisha, who had previously won 20 caps for Norway, was arguably the most prominent example – although his brother Veton decided to remain with the Nordic nation.Berisha, currently of Lazio, even scored on his Kosovo debut in a World Cup qualifying draw with Finland. He won his 10th cap against the Faroe Islands in October.New features you’d love on FourFourTwo.comfeatureThu, 15 Nov 2018 11:31:35 +0000Joe Brewin100090359 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comQuiz! Can you name these 40 famous football brothers?Each of these siblings paved a career at the highest level well, a fairly high level from Dutch international twins to a pair of Danish football legendshttps://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/quiz-can-you-name-these-40-famous-football-brothers
It must be in the genes. Each of these proud parents produced not just one professional footballer, but two (or more) siblings who played to a good standard.One important note before you begin: we’re not saying these are all the football brothers that are out there. There’s too many for that. We’ve also tried to avoid examples where a really great footballer just has a subpar sibling (e.g. Eddy Baggio, a journeyman who unfortunately looked like a melted waxwork version of his legendary brother Roberto).Most of the brothers below play to at least a ‘good’ professional standard. Many, indeed, are internationals – although in one or two cases, the brothers have played for different national teams and even against one another.Now, six minutes are on the clock and first names are below. Fill in the surnames and let us know your score @FourFourTwo. We’ll retweet the best, if you don’t give answers away – and help a brother out by sharing this with your friends and family. Ta!(Note: Adblockers can stop you seeing our quizzes – please turn them off. Thanks)More time-killing quizzes on FourFourTwo.comfeatureFri, 31 Aug 2018 10:53:13 +0000Alex Reid100067555 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comThe 17-year-old Manchester United target Erling Braut Haland scores four goals in 17 minutesUniteds Scandinavian scout Tommy Moller Nielsen was reportedly in the stands as Haland stole the show against Brann.https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/17-year-old-manchester-united-target-erling-braut-haland-scores-four-goals-17-minutes
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's Molde thrashed the Eliteserien leaders 4-0on Sunday as Haland showed why he's considered one of the hottest prospects in Europe right now.Haland now has six goals in 13 appearances for the senior team this season after putting away four in Bergen with all his strikes coming in the game's opening 20 minutes.Molde forması giyen 2000 doğumlu Erling Braut Håland, 20 dakikada Brann kalesine 4 gal atarak Takımına 3 puanı getiren futbolcu oldu...Brann 0 - 4 Molde pic.twitter.com/v4Vw6KECBg July 2, 2018
The 17-year-old, who is the son of former Manchester City defender Alf-Inge, showed off all his best attributes against a Brann side who are four points clear at the top of the league.His performances appear to have drawn interest from across Europe and Solskjaer says Halandreminds him of Romelu Lukaku."He can become a top striker for sure," he told Eurosportpost-match."He reminds me of the type of striker Lukaku is. There is a lot of interest in him. We have had offers from good clubs this year but we have rejected them. Former Champions League winners."See also...Dries Mertens wants Belgium to score World Cup goals to get his friends free TVs In Other News...featureMon, 02 Jul 2018 10:44:56 +0000James Kilpatrick100048711 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comQuiz! Can you name every Premier League player to score in a World Cup since 1998?From France 98 through to the present day, these are the 107 occasions that a Prem star featured at a World Cup and scoredhttps://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/quiz-can-you-name-every-premier-league-player-score-a-world-cup-1998
Five different Premier League players have got on the scoresheet in the first week of the World Cup, but wefully expect that number to rocket before the final in July. That’s because the Prem is so powerfully represented at Russia 2018 – not least within the ruddy Belgian squad.However, it wasn’t always quite like this. It’s mildly surprising to recall thatin 1998, just 12 Premier League players scored at the World Cup – with five of those being England lads. So just seven Premier League overseas internationals netted in France.It’s crept up steadily since, yet every player to score counts in this quiz. These are the 107 times a Premier League player has scored at a World Cup (1998 to 2018) – with their country and club at the time of the tournament listed below.There are 15 minutes on the clock for you to try to name as many as you can, then let us know how you did @FourFourTwo – we’ll retweet the best scores, if you don’t give answers away. Challenge some friends while you’re at it – they will be eternally grateful.(Note: Adblockers can stop you seeing our quizzes – please turn them off. Thanks)More time-killing quizzes on FourFourTwo.comfeatureFri, 22 Jun 2018 12:09:07 +0000Alex Reid100044782 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comNorway 1 Panama 0: King punishes World Cup debutantsJoshua King struck the only goal as Norway beat World Cup-bound Panama on Wednesday.https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/norway-1-panama-0-king-punishes-world-cup-debutants
Panama's final World Cup warm-up match ended in defeat as the minnows were beaten 1-0 by Norway in Oslo.
The upcoming tournament in Russia will be Panama's first appearance at world football's showpiece event, but they head into it having only won one of their last seven matches.
Joshua King's strike – his second in as many games this month – was the difference at the Ullevaal Stadion, the Bournemouth striker firing Norway ahead in the fourth minute, holding off two defenders before poking past Jaime Penedo.
Fidel Escobar went close to equalising for Panama with a free-kick that stung the palms of Sten Grytebust, while Penedo needed to be alert at the other end to deny Tore Reginiussen early in the second half.
Substitute Gabriel Torres wasted Panama's most promising second-half move as he dragged a shot wide from 12 yards, leaving the visitors without a goal in both friendly matches before heading to Russia.
Ola Kamara should have doubled Norway's lead late on but he inexplicably blazed over from close range after excellent work by Crystal Palace striker Alexander Sorloth.
Luckily it mattered little for Norway as they picked up a fourth successive win, but Panama coach Hernan Gomez will hope for much better in their World Cup opener with Belgium on June 18.
news_articleWed, 06 Jun 2018 18:59:18 +0000Anonymous100038860 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comRonaldo trumps Salah, Messi missing - winners and losers from Friday's internationalsCristiano Ronaldo avoided being upstaged by Mohamed Salah and Brazil won without Neymar as preparations for the World Cup began in earnest.https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/ronaldo-trumps-salah-messi-missing-winners-and-losers-fridays-internationals
England demonstrated a rare degree of comfort with an experimental formation as they defeated Netherlands 1-0, while Bert van Marwijk's Australia tenure got off to a nightmare start during a busy night of international friendly action on Friday.
Argentina were without Lionel Messi for a game against Italy intended by Jorge Sampaoli to serve as a dress rehearsal for a World Cup knockout match.
And Didier Deschamps' battle to transform an extraordinarily talented France squad into a consistent, polished team continued as Les Bleus lost 3-2 at home to Colombia.
Here, we bring you three winners and three losers from the high-profile clashes…
THE WINNERS
England's new-look defence
It takes a brave England coach to dispense with his country's preferred 4-4-2 formation, but that is exactly what Southgate did en route to victory in Amsterdam, where Jesse Lingard grabbed the winner with his first senior international goal.
Joe Gomez – who was promptly replaced by Harry Maguire due to injury - John Stones and Kyle Walker formed a back three shielded by Jordan Henderson, with Danny Rose and Kieran Trippier operating as advanced wingbacks, although it remains to be seen if the tactic will make an appearance when the stakes are higher in Russia.
pic.twitter.com/bRniYFxnFe
— England (@England) March 23, 2018
Ronaldo trumps Salah - but both are looking good
If some observers are to be believed, Cristiano Ronaldo has a budding rival for the title of being one of the world's best players, Mohamed Salah having risen to the challenge of claiming that mantle during a season of extraordinarily prolific goalscoring for Liverpool.
He put Egypt ahead against Portugal in Zurich, but the Real Madrid star had the final say, netting twice in injury time to deny Hector Cuper's team, with both players looking well set to star in Russia.
No Neymar, no problem for Selecao as Coutinho impresses
Brazil face a nervous wait to learn if Neymar can recover from surgery to repair a broken metatarsal quickly enough to be at his best at the World Cup finals.
But Tite's side had few problems dispatching the hosts in a friendly in Moscow, where Joao Miranda, Philippe Coutinho – who also impressed as a creative force - and Paulinho struck in a 13-minute spell early in the second half. Tougher tests must be navigated, though, if they are to be back at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15.
COMEMORA, BRASIL!
A #SeleçãoBrasileira derrotou a Rússia por 3 a 0:
Miranda
Philippe Coutinho
Paulinho#GigantesPorNatureza #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/w6yML2E2MH
— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol) March 23, 2018
THE LOSERS
Van Marwijk and Australia blinded by Northern Lights
The Socceroos won a nerve-wracking play-off to reach a fourth successive World Cup finals, only for coach Ange Postecoglou to resign and take up a post in the J-League.
Van Marwijk took the Netherlands to the final in 2010, but on Friday's evidence he faces a tough task getting to grips with Australia, who were thumped 4-1 by Norway in Oslo.
FULL TIME | Not our night in Oslo. #NORvAUS pic.twitter.com/QpnKu8eadG
— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 23, 2018
Messi's understudy teaches Sampaoli little
Jorge Sampaoli had made no secret of the fact he considers it his duty to build an Argentina team that maximises the extraordinary gifts of Barcelona star Messi.
The talisman's absence due to a minor injury left his coach watching Giovani Lo Celso playing the number 10 role during a 2-0 win over Italy at Eithad Stadium in Manchester, and La Albiceleste must now wait until the meeting with Spain on Tuesday for another opportunity to properly finetune the supporting cast.
Griezmann and Mbappe struggle as Colombia leave Deschamps searching
What is the best team France can pick? It is a question very few can answer decisively, and yet Didier Deschamps must try to do just that before the World Cup finals.
Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe were among the stars to start but fail to shine in Paris, where Les Bleus gave up a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 at home to Colombia.
Ousmane Dembele and Paul Pogba, two of the most expensive players in the world, came off the bench, while the likes of Adrien Rabiot and Anthony Martial remained unused, with Olivier Giroud and Thomas Lemar grabbing France's goals.
Which XI will start against Australia in Kazan? Good luck solving that one, Didier.
Full-time at the Stade de France, and Les Bleus go down 3-2 to a strong Colombia side. Better luck next time, guys! #FRACOL #FiersdetreBleus #RoadToRussia pic.twitter.com/CCn3AgbzQ2
— French Team (@FrenchTeam) March 23, 2018
news_articleSat, 24 Mar 2018 10:49:14 +0000Anonymous100013235 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comAustralia not ready for World Cup – Van MarwijkBert van Marwijk says he needs time to develop his Australia team after a 4-1 friendly defeat in Norway.https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/australia-not-ready-world-cup-van-marwijk
Australia's 4-1 friendly defeat to Norway made it "clear" that the Socceroos are not ready for the World Cup, according to new head coach Bert van Marwijk.
Van Marwijk's side put in an uninspiring display in Oslo, as Ola Kamara's hat-trick fired the home side to a convincing victory.
The Dutchman has been appointed to guide the Socceroos through to the end of the World Cup, with Graham Arnold set to take the reins upon their return from Russia after Ange Postecoglou walked away from the role in November.
But Van Marwijk says the defensive lapses that aided the hosts' cause were an indication of the amount of work required ahead of the tournament.
"It's always difficult in the first game, we talked about it before," he said.
"This is a situation where you have to get to know each other.
"It was clear that we are not ready yet and we need time to develop this team.
"I think when you see the game, you see that there are two standout situations where there are individual faults and some goals.
"That's a shame because it has nothing to do with how you want to play."
FT Norway 4-1 Australia
New coach Bert van Marwijk's first game in charge with @Socceroos ends with defeat in Oslo pic.twitter.com/x9ED6gqWmR
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) March 23, 2018
Taking some positives from his Australia experience so far, Van Marwijk added: "We are starting the preparation and everyone is full of energy and everyone wants to improve.
"That's positive, but I don't like to lose and 4-1 is too much."
Australia take on Colombia at Craven Cottage in another friendly on Tuesday.
news_articleFri, 23 Mar 2018 19:48:11 +0000Anonymous100013031 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comNorway 4 Australia 1: Kamara hat-trick spoils Van Marwijk's Socceroos bowNorway triumphed 4-1 in their international friendly with Australia, who were coached by Bert van Marwijk for the first time.https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/norway-4-australia-1-kamara-hat-trick-spoils-van-marwijks-socceroos-bow
Ola Kamara netted a hat-trick to consign Australia to a 4-1 defeat in Bert van Marwijk’s first match in charge on Friday, getting the Dutchman’s World Cup preparations off to a false start.
Dutchman Van Marwijk has been appointed to guide the Socceroos through to the end of the tournament, with Graham Arnold set to take the reins upon their return from Russia after Ange Postecoglou walked away from the role in November.
But the former Netherlands and Saudi Arabia coach witnessed an uninspiring display from his players in Oslo, despite going ahead through Jackson Irvine after 19 minutes.
The Hull City man's opener was cancelled out before half-time by the lively Kamara - the LA Galaxy striker seemingly keen to impress after learning he will soon be joined by Zlatan Ibrahimovic in California.
After Irvine's defensive lapse at a free-kick opened the door for Tore Reginiussen to score Norway's second, Kamara doubled his own tally before making it a treble in stoppage time.
Olaaaaaa Kamaaaaaraaaa. MÅÅÅÅÅÅÅL! 3-1 til Norge. pic.twitter.com/GGaE9L57VJ
— Fotballandslaget (@nff_landslag) March 23, 2018
Norway made the brighter start at a sparsely populated Ullevaal Stadion, with Fredrik Midtsjo and Kamara both trying their luck from the edge of the box in the early stages.
Kamara then played a superb throughball for Bjorn Johnsen, but the ADO Den Haag forward could only fire straight at Mathew Ryan.
When the opening goal arrived, it came very much against the run of play, with Irvine rising to meet an Aaron Mooy corner with a header that was too powerful for Norway goalkeeper Rune Jarstein to deal with.
Jarstein showed greater command of his penalty area when he rushed out to collect Mooy's next corner delivery, and Norway soon had the goal their first-half showing merited.
Mohamed Elyounoussi's cutback from the left byline set up Kamara to finish from six yards out, sending the sides in level at the break.
And it took only three minutes of the second half for Norway to move in front, as Irvine strayed out of position at a free-kick, allowing Reginiussen the space to head home unmarked.
Kamara's impressive display then yielded a second goal, when he slotted into the bottom-right corner after being played in by Markus Henriksen, before the former Columbus Crew striker cut inside to rifle home a sixth goal in five starts for club and country.
Van Marwijk's focus now switches to a friendly clash with Colombia at Fulham's Craven Cottage on Tuesday.
FULL TIME | Not our night in Oslo. #NORvAUS pic.twitter.com/QpnKu8eadG
— Caltex Socceroos (@Socceroos) March 23, 2018
news_articleFri, 23 Mar 2018 18:59:00 +0000Anonymous100013003 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comRanked! The 19 worst moments in England national team historyFrom turnips to umbrellas and Gazzas tears to Wazzas outburst, its Englands most heartbreaking moments. Soak it in...Joe Nicholsonhttps://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ranked-19-worst-moments-england-national-team-history
19. Wally plus BrollyEngland 2-2 Croatia, European Championship qualifier (2007)On November 21, 2007, England suffered one of the darker days in their footballing history when they failed to qualify for Euro 2008.Steve McClaren’s side only needed a draw against Croatia at Wembley to book their place at the tournament, but after they came from two goals down to level the scores at 2-2, Mladen Petric fired home a dramatic winner 13 minutes from time.While visiting manager Slaven Bilic jumped for joy, McClaren stood in disbelief – although at least he was sheltered from the pouring rain by his infamous umbrella. The following day, he was labelled the “Wally with the Brolly” by the Daily Mail and subsequently sacked after just 18 games in charge.18. Rooney riled by travelling LionsEngland 0-0 Algeria, 2010 World Cup group stageAs England trudged off the pitch following a wretched display in Cape Town, a chorus of boos rang out around the Green Port Stadium.Wayne Rooney couldn't keep his thoughts to himself, offering a menacing stare to one of the TV cameras before uttering up a sarcastic: “Nice to see your home fans booing you. That's what loyal support is.”Captain Steven Gerrard later admitted that his side “weren’t good enough” and that the travelling fans had every right to voice their displeasure after a tepid display most memorable for some Emile Heskey stepovers. Exactly.17. One hell of a beating in NorwayNorway 2-1 England, World Cup qualifier (1981)The Three Lions still qualified for the 1982 tournament, but an unexpected defeat to bottom-of-the-table Norway - ranked 76th in the world at the time - was embarrassing to say the least.Goals from Roger Albertsen and Hallvar Thoresen sealed a famous win for the Norwegians, but the game is best remembered for Bjorge Lillelien’s commentary after the full-time whistle."Lord Nelson, Lord Beaverbrook, Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Anthony Eden, Clement Attlee, Henry Cooper, Lady Diana! Maggie Thatcher - can you hear me, Maggie Thatcher? Your boys took one hell of a beating! Your boys took one hell of a beating!"16. The bobble in CroatiaCroatia 2-0 England, European Championship qualifier (2006)Steve McClaren’s England needed a lift following their goalless draw with Macedonia at Old Trafford in their previous encounter. What they definitely didn’t need was Gary Neville's routine back pass to bobble off a loose piece of Croatian turf, causing goalkeeper Paul Robinson to mistime his clearance.The ball rolled past the bemused shot-stopper to seal a valuable three points for the hosts. Robinson’s England career never recovered.15. Schooled by Pirlo's PanenkaEngland 0-0 Italy (2-4 on penalties), Euro 2012 quarter-finalsMidfield maestro Andrea Pirlo played England off the park in Kiev, completing 131 successful passes when no England player made it to 50.After being outplayed for 120 minutes, Roy Hodgson’s side held out for penalties with a semi-final place at Euro 2012 on the line. England took an early lead in the shoot-out, but then – keeping with tradition – things went to pot. After misses from Ashleys Young and Cole, Pirlo stepped up to embarrass Joe Hart with an audacious Panenka, completing his memorable masterclass with style.14. Roy the oracle shamed by SuarezUruguay 2-1 England, 2014 World Cup group stageLuis Suarez was an injury doubt before the crucial group game in Sao Paulo, amid suggestions from Roy Hodgson that the Uruguayan talisman wasn’t world class off the back of a 31-goal Premier League campaign.Sure enough, the former Liverpool striker produced the best possible riposte, scoring twice to eliminate the Three Lions. His winner five minutes from time originated from Steven Gerrard’s misjudged header – and Suarez wasn’t afraid to show his emotion after proving a point to his English critics. Cheers, Roy.13. "We didn't like that crossbar anyway..."England 1-2 Scotland, 1977 British Home ChampionshipAs the full-time whistle sounded, a throng of Scotland fans flooded onto the Wembley pitch following a 2-1 victory for the Tartan Army. Kenny Dalglish and his Scottish team-mates were lauded in London as they were hauled onto the shoulders of their buoyant fans - who also broke the crossbar for good measure.The result saw Scotland win the British Home Championship for the first time in three years – and coincided with England’s failure to qualify for a second successive World Cup.12. Wazza and the winkEngland 0-0 Portugal (1-3 on penalties), 2006 World Cup quarter-finalTwo of the world’s most exciting young talents came face-to-face in this 2006 World Cup quarter-final, when Manchester United team-mates Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo tangled in Gelsenkirchen.There was a clear winner, however: Rooney was sent off after stamping on Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho in the 62nd minute; Ronaldo led the protests and was seen winking to the Portuguese bench after the referee brandished a red card.The England man only had himself to blame, but the Three Lions held on without him until the penalty shoot-out... where Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher all failed to convert from 12 yards.11. "Clown" makes England sadEngland 1-1 Poland, World Cup qualifier (1973)Alf Ramsey’s side had to win their final qualifier against Poland at Wembley to reach the 1974 World Cup in West Germany.Before the game, Brian Clough helpfully labelled Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski a “circus clown in gloves” – but it was the Pole who had all the chuckles. England recorded 32 shots, forced 26 corners and hit the woodwork twice, but a 1-1 draw proved disastrous.10. Sol Campbell feels ref wrath... againEngland 2-2 Portugal (5-6 on penalties), Euro 2004 quarter-finalSol Campbell must still wonder how he only managed to score one international goal. The centre-back thought he’d headed home the winner against Argentina at World Cup 98, only for it to be ruled out for Alan Shearer’s alleged foul on goalkeeper Carlos Roa.To the nation’s despair, history repeated itself in 2004 when Campbell’s late header against Portugal was once again harshly disallowed. Predictably, England lost on penalties.9. The case for goal-line techEngland 1-4 Germany, 2010 World Cup last 16Before his international retirement in 2014, Frank Lampard held an unwanted record for registering the most shots in World Cup history without scoring (40).Things could have been very different, however, had the officials noticed that his effort against Germany in 2010 was well over the line as England searched for an equalising goal having gone 2-1 down to Joachim Low's side.Instead, referee Jorge Larrionda waved for play to continue and England went on to suffer a chastening defeat.8. Taylor becomes turnipNetherlands 2-0 England, World Cup qualifier (1993)"The referee’s got me the sack, thank him ever so much for that won’t you?” England manager Graham Taylor quipped to a powerless official as England failed to qualify for 1994 World Cup - captured on film in The Impossible Job.A loss to the Netherlands in England's penultimate group game sealed their fate, with Taylor (quite rightfully) enraged by the fact that Ronald Koeman only received a yellow card after bringing down David Platt when the latter was through on goal.Koeman opened the scoring moments later, before Dennis Bergkamp sealed the win and ensured England would be watching the World Cup on TV.7. Nev-er forgiven, PhilEngland 2-3 Romania, Euro 2000 group stageEngland’s dismal Euro 2000 campaign ended painfully as a late penalty from Romanian substitute Ioan Ganea sent Kevin Keegan’s side packing.A 2-2 draw would have been enough for the Three Lions to advance to the knockout stage, but Phil Neville’s unfathomable tackle on Viorel Moldovan in the 89th minute prompted referee Urs Meier to point to the spot. Ganea duly converted, beating stand-in goalkeeper Nigel Martyn from 12 yards to end England’s hopes.6. Burning effigies at the readyEngland 2-2 Argentina (3-4 on penalties), 1998 World Cup last 16David Beckham’s petulant kick at Diego Simeone was hardly a leg-breaker, but it was enough to get the 23-year-old sent off at a crucial stage of this World Cup knockout clash.The then-Manchester United wideman saw red two minutes after half-time when he flicked a boot at the current Atletico Madrid boss, right under the nose of Danish referee Kim Milton Nielsen.Glenn Hoddle’s side had to play the remaining 43 minutes - plus extra time - with 10 men before suffering further penalty heartache. Post-tournament, Beckham felt the full force of an angry nation – then won the Treble with Manchester United.5. God doesn't get penalisedArgentina 2-1 England, 1986 World Cup quarter-finalThe infamous goal that still leaves a sour taste over 30 years later.With this quarter-final locked at 0-0, Argentina’s talisman latched onto Steve Hodge’s mistimed clearance before somehow out-jumping goalkeeper Peter Shilton and batting the ball home with his hand. When asked how the goal was scored, the controversial forward replied: "A little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God.”In fairness to El Diego, he did later score the greatest goal in World Cup history by carrying the ball from his own half, beating four defenders and rounding Shilton to give Argentina a 2-0 lead.4. Say it ain't so, JoeUSA 1-0 England, 1950 World Cup group stageWalter Winterbottom's star-studded side, featuring the likes of Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney and Billy Wright, were humiliated at the 1950 World Cup in Brazil.In one of the greatest sporting shocks of all time, a US team made up of postmen and funeral directors conquered the Three Lions, who lost 1-0 to Haiti-born Joe Gaetjens' goal despite dominating possession and hitting the post twice in Belo Horizonte. So unimaginable was the result that the New York Times dismissed the wire report as a hoax. 3. When football came homeEngland 1-1 Germany (5-6 on penalties), Euro 1996 semi-finalAfter their World Cup-winning side of 1966, England’s Euro 96 team is fondly remembered as one of the country's best ever. Terry Venables’ men came within an inch of reaching the final on home soil, Paul Gascoigne just failing to get a touch on Alan Shearer’s cross as England sought a golden goal in extra time.In the end, the Three Lions crashed out on penalties after Gareth Southgate’s spot-kick was saved.2. Gazza cries a nation's tearsEngland 1-1 West Germany (3-4 on penalties), 1990 World Cup semi-finalGary Lineker, David Platt, John Barnes Co. were on the brink of becoming the first English side to reach a tournament final since 1966.Paul Gascoigne had been one of the starts of the tournament but, with the scores level at 1-1, the midfielder’s mistimed lunge on Thomas Berthold resulted in a yellow card which would have ruled him out of the showpiece in Rome.So distraught Gascoigne was that he couldn't even bring himself to take a penalty in the shootout, as Chris Waddle missed the decisive spot-kick and sent the Germans through to the final instead.1. England freeze as Icemen conquerEngland 1-2 Iceland, Euro 2016 last 16Joe Hart wasn’t the sole reason for England’s unthinkable defeat by Iceland, but the struggling shot-stopper certainly didn’t cover himself in glory when he flapped at a long throw which led to the minnows' equaliser in Nice.Worse was still to come, when Ragnar Sigurdsson’s shot trickled past Hart to give the Scandinavians a shock lead. The hapless Three Lions froze as Iceland held on to their advantage with relative ease, and manager Roy Hodgson resigned immediately after the game.The loss will be remembered as the worst in England’s history.New features you'd love on FourFourTwo.comfeatureThu, 22 Mar 2018 16:38:42 +0000Alex Reid100012328 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comQuiz! Can you name the top active goalscorer for these 40 international sides?As a Welsh powerhouse becomes his countrys all-time leading scorer with a hat-trick, lets test your knowledge of current international top scorershttps://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/quiz-can-you-name-top-active-goalscorer-these-40-international-sides
We seem to be living in a rich time for international goalscorers. Witness the fact that the top 12 players in this quiz each have 50 or more national team goals. Remarkable. They can’t all have come against American Samoa.While a certain Welshman (who we're hoping you'll get pretty quickly) hasjust become his country's highest ever scorer, the below doesn't even delve intohistory. Each of these playersare the active highest scorers for their country – meaning they’re still playing and available for international football. That rules out international retirees such as Wayne Rooney and his 53 goals.Below is each player’s international goal total, country - and as a bonus clue, the league where they currently ply their trade for their club side. Don’t say we aren’t kind to you.Eight minutes are on the clock – let us know how you got on via Twitter @FourFourTwo (we’ll retweet the best scores if you don’t give answers away). Then challenge some pals too.(Note: Adblockers can stop you seeing our quizzes – a crying shame. Please turn them off while you’re here)More time-killing quizzes at FourFourTwo.comfeatureThu, 22 Mar 2018 14:17:22 +0000Alex Reid772677 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comRanked! The worst moments in England national team historyEver since their triumph at the 1966 World Cup on home soil, the Three Lions have suffered continual heartbreak...https://www.fourfourtwo.com/gallery/ranked-worst-moments-england-national-team-history
slideshowTue, 21 Nov 2017 12:50:36 +0000Greg Lea787470 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com12 of the most shocking player vs fan punch-upsFrom Evertons Rocky dad to Cantonas kung-fu kick via wrestling Borat its the occasions when a supporter and player have got physicalJoshua Joneshttps://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/12-most-shocking-player-vs-fan-punch-ups
Everton fan vs Anthony Lopes, 2017In October 2017’s Europa League clash at Goodison Park, one Toffee couldn't help himself getting involved when a clash started between both sets of players. A brawl developed after Ashley Williams’ rather unnecessary challenge on Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes – and onefather in the crowd made his way forwardto join in, landing a slap on the French goalkeeper’s face.What made the incident so outlandish was that while one arm was being used to hit the Lyon player, the other was carrying his toddler son. The man has been banned from Goodison Park for life but defended himself, claiming that the pair were carried to the front by the fans and through a gate which should have been shut. Right.Eric Cantona vs Crystal Palace fan, 1995Perhaps the most shocking moment in Premier League history:Cantona aimed a kung-fu kick at Crystal Palace fan Matthew Simmons after he allegedly told the Manchester United man to "f*** off back to France".Cantona had received a red card shortly before the incident for kicking out at Palace defender Richard Shaw, but that misdemeanour paled into insignificance soon after. The unrepentant ex-Leeds man, who later told FourFourTwothat he "should have punched him harder", was hit with a nine-month ban and handed 120 hours of community service.Graham Stack vs Royal Antwerp fan, 2002Former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack was one of four Gunnersloaned to Belgian side Beveren for the 2002/03 season –but he was the only one who got into itwith opposition fans.Said supporters were soon regretting their actions, though. After breaking through the gates and making their way onto the pitch, the two Antwerp followers approached Stack and got more than they bargained for, as the loanee knocked one down with a single clean punch. Who says Arsenal lack steel?Watch Stack discussing the incident in our latest FourFourTwo FilmPetrolul fan vs George Galamaz, 2011Referee Robert Dumitru’s decision to award Steaua Bucharest a penalty just before half-time in their Romanian league clash with Petrolul would have unimaginable consequences for Steaua’s Galamaz. As the penalty was set up, a Petrolul fan broke onto the pitch and ran at Galamaz from behind, punching him on the side of the head.The hefty connection left the defender with a broken cheekbone, with Galamaz's hearing also damaged. His team-mates didn't take kindly to the invader's actions and proceeded to attack the supporter, which brought them two red cards.Peter Schemichel vs Galatasaray fan, 1993"It was a terrifying business which had nothing to do with sport, and can be categorised objectively as an absolute disgrace," said Alex Ferguson of Manchester United's trip to Istanbul to face Galatasaray in 1993. The fan-conquering Schmeichel may not concur.A home supporter entered the field in the closing stages of this Champions League encounter, which prompted the United goalkeeper to take action. Schmeichel grabbed the fan and ushered him to the side of the pitch, before spectacularly throwing him over the touchline. Lesson: don’t mess with the Great Dane.Anton Kanibolotskiy vs Oleksandriya fan, 2015Who'd be a goalkeeper? Not only is there a good chance they'll be punished for their mistakes, a team's custodian is also most vulnerable to attacks from invading supporters.Shakhtar Donetsk shot-stopper Kanibolotskiy took a preventative course of action when a fan approached him in 2015. Not taking too kindly to having a middle finger thrust in his face, Kanibolotskiy shoved the supporter and grabbed him by the throat, sending his red beanie flying in the process.Leeds fan vs Chris Kirkland, 2012In a fiery Yorkshire derby, Leeds' Michael Tonge had just equalised against Sheffield Wednesday when Owls goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was violently shoved in the face by a Leeds supporter. The keeper received treatment on the field for minutes after the incident, which led to the jailing of the 'fan', who claimed to be "so drunk" that he had no memory of the event.Eran Zahavi vs Hapoel Tel Aviv fan, 2014Moving between rival clubs always guarantees unpopularity with at least one set of supporters, but Zahavi probably didn't expect to be physically attacked after joining Maccabi Tel Aviv from neighbours Hapoel.The Israeli striker was set upon after scoring a penalty, exchanging kicks with the topless fan before team-mates and opponents intervened. Ten minutes after Zahavi was sent off for his actions, further crowd trouble forced the referee to abandon the match.Frode Olsen vs Spain fan, 2003Norway's No.1 took matters into his own hands when a rogue fan entered the field during an international fixture against Spain in 2003. The goalkeeper showed a quick turn of pace when chasing the unwelcome visitor, beforeflying into tackle that'dmake Vinnie Jones wince.As the supporter tumbled over, losing a shoe in the process, Olsen again reacted quickly to pin him down and wait for assistance. Nice work all round.Esteban Alvarado vs Ajax fan, 2011With 36 minutes played in AZ Alkmaar’s KNVB Cup match against Ajax, goalkeeper Alvarado was approached by an Ajax fan who appeared intent on attacking the 22-year-old shot-stopper. The fan and Alvarado jump-kicked each other, before the latter gained the upper hand and began treating the stricken supporter's body like a football.The AZ Alkmaar man was duly sent off, which led to manager Gertjan Verbeek ordering his players into the dressing room in protest. The referee had no choice but to abandon the game.Ashley Vickers vs Havant Waterlooville fan, 2011When player-manager Vickers was forced to play for Dorchester Town amid an injury crisis, he could hardly have envisaged how his evening would end. When a pitch invader wearing nothing but a Borat-style mankini continued to evade the stewards' attempted tackles, Vickers caught up with the fan and wrestled him to the ground. And what thanks did he get? A red card from the referee.Celtic fan vs Gordon Strachan, 1981Strachan won three league titles and three domestic cup competitions during his time as Celtic manager, but he wasn't always so popular with the club's supporters.Indeed, the former Scotland boss was once targeted by a Bhoys follower during his playing days, the fan in question taking exception to Strachan's expertly converted penalty for Aberdeen in 1981. The Celtic supporter didn't get close enough to the celebrating midfielder, though, and was quickly hauled off by two police officers.Now read...10 of football's most spectacular (and often awful) debutsThe 16 most hilarious football club names from around the worldWhy Mauricio Pochettino is the closest thing the Premier League has to a young Alex FergusonNew features you'd love on FourFourTwo.comfeatureThu, 02 Nov 2017 12:43:49 +0000Alex Reid781615 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comFormer Celtic manager strips back tension by baring allOld Bhoys boss Ronny Deila demonstrated a unique way of relaxing his players before a big game.https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/former-celtic-manager-strips-back-tension-baring-all
Now in charge of Norwegian top division outfitValerenga, Delia decided his players could do with their spirts raising before an important game amidst their relegation scrap. With his side languishing near the foot of the table, the manager took it uponhimself to deliver his pre-match team talk fully nude.His eccentric methods clearly did the trick asValerenga ran out victorious by two goals to one."I don't know if it was pretty, but it worked well," midfielder Herman Stengel said after the match."A lot of people have probably seen me nude already, we have to have fun in all the seriousness," laughed Deila. When pressed on whether this would become a regular motivational tactic he remarked:"I cannot do it every time. Then it loses the surprise effect!"Whatever works for you, Ronny.See also...Arsene Wenger congratulates George Weah - on an election he hasn't wonMario Balotelli finds hilarious way to entertain himself during the international breakRyan Babel hits woodwork three times in a row trying to score in Netherlands trainingIn Other News... on FourFourTwo.comfeatureFri, 13 Oct 2017 12:58:05 +0000Charlie Carmichael774905 at https://www.fourfourtwo.comO'Neill looking forward to play-off 'opportunity'Although Northern Ireland were beaten in Norway on Sunday, Michael O'Neill was already looking ahead to a World Cup play-off.https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/oneill-looking-forward-play-opportunity
Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill welcomed the challenge of heading into the World Cup play-offs as an unseeded side following their 1-0 loss in Norway on Sunday.
O'Neill's men ended their Group C campaign with two successive defeats - Germany won 3-1 in Belfast on Thursday - meaning they are likely to see their FIFA ranking affected.
That likelihood did not unduly concern O'Neill, though, who is just pleased Northern Ireland are still involved.
"We can't be greedy," he told Sky Sports. "We're up against some great teams, potentially, in the play-off. We'll just have to deal with whoever comes in the draw.
"You could equally play a very good team if you were seeded as well. It's unlikely now that we will be seeded, but we still have an opportunity to go to Russia."
On his team's achievements, he added: "This team is punching above its weight massively. It has done now for a considerable amount of time."
Full-Time Next stop: Play-offs! #GAWA #DareToDream pic.twitter.com/9kWSgq175y
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) October 8, 2017
Slovakia's rise to second place in Group F had ensured Northern Ireland would progress earlier on Sunday, with O'Neill believing that result allowed his team to play with more freedom - even if they were beaten 1-0 in Oslo courtesy of a bizarre Chris Brunt own goal.
"It just brought a little bit of tension out of the situation," he said.
"It wasn't as if we could change the team. People were asking me questions about whether I had two teams in mind - trust me, it's not possible to do that. I wish it was.
"At times we played some good football and at times we were off it a little bit. That was understandable. The lads who were on bookings got through without picking anything else up and that was a big bonus.
"I was disappointed to lose the game - the nature of the goal was unlucky - but the main thing was to have the opportunity of the play-off and that was confirmed to us before we took to the field."
news_articleSun, 08 Oct 2017 21:18:48 +0000Anonymous773303 at https://www.fourfourtwo.com